Research project Endocrine acting proteins as modulators of energy balance in obesity
To maintain body weight and metabolic homeostasis functional inter-organ communication with multiple endocrine players is crucial. In this project we explore the metabolic impact and consequences of induced cytokine signaling in metabolic disease progression.
Understanding the relationship between energy balance and inter-organ crosstalk is necessary to develop effective strategies for prevention of metabolic diseases. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) are established as stress responsive cytokines, which can modulate energy balance by increasing energy expenditure or suppressing food intake, respectively. The circulating levels of both proteins are often simultaneously induced and elevated during obesity or metabolic stress conditions. It is, however, unknown whether GDF15 and FGF21 are protective or harmful during obesity and whether they modulate energy homeostasis in concert. Here, we study the impact of induced FGF21/GDF15 signaling in metabolic disease. Importantly, we investigate whether synergetic interaction is important for the regulation of whole-body energy balance in health and disease.